Plum tree named &#39;Suplumfortysix&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plum tree variety,  Prunus salicina , cv. ‘Suplumfortysix’ is characterized by a dark-purple dappled skin.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Prunus salicina

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suplumfortysix’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum, Prunus salicina cv. ‘Suplumfortysix’. The new variety was first originated by hybridized on Aug. 5, 2007 by Terry A. Bacon as breeder number: ‘PL878RZ’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ is characterized by a dark purple dappled skin.

The seed parent is ‘96P024-003-430’ (unpatented), and the pollen parent is unknown. The parent varieties were first crossed in February 2004, with the date of first sowing being February 2005, and the date of first flowering being February 2007. The new plum variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in January 2010, by grafting.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ is distinguished from its seed parent in that the new variety ripens about 18 days after ‘96P024-003-430’ and has a dark purple dappled skin color compared to solid black skin for ‘96P024-003-430’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ ripens about 20 days before ‘Angeleno’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2747) and has a dark purple dappled skin compared to the solid reddish-black skin of ‘Angeleno’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2747). The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ ripens about 14 days after ‘Dapple Dandy’ and has a dappled finish like ‘Dapple Dandy’ but the color of the new variety is a dark-purple dappled finish compared to the pale-reddish dapple of ‘Dapple Dandy.’

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, grafting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new plum variety ‘Suplumfortysix’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, a view of the fruit as a whole, an exterior and sectional view of a fruit divided across its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to a 4 year old ‘Suplumfortysix’ plants on Nemaguard rootstock, grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during 2013, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Tree:     -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on a 4 year old tree unless             otherwise noted.). Size: Medium. Reaches a height of             approximately 3 meters with normal pruning. Spread:             Approximately 3 meters. Vigor: Medium. Growth: Semi-upright.             Productivity: Productive. Form: Vase formed. Bearer:             Regular. Fertility: Unknown. Canopy Density: Medium.             Hardiness: Hardy in all fruit growing areas of California.             Winter chilling requirement is approximately 700 hours at or             below 7.2 C. Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: Under close             observation in Kern County, California, no particular             plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been             observed. Insect Resistance/Susceptibility: Under close             observation in Kern County, California, no particular             plant/fruit insect resistance/susceptibility has been             observed.         -   Trunk.—(Measurements at approximately 30 cm above soil line             on mature tree). Diameter: Approximately 14 cm. Texture:             Medium shaggy, increases with age of tree. Trunk color:             About Medium Grey-Brown 199B to Medium Greyed-Orange 173B;             becomes darker with age.         -   Branches.—(Measurements at approximately 90 cm above soil             line.) Size: Diameter approximately 9 cm. Texture: Medium,             Shaggy. Color: Varying between about Medium Grey-Brown 198B             to Medium Greyed-Orange 173B; becomes darker with age.             Lenticels: Present.         -   Lenticels.—Number: Medium. Density: about 2/cm². Color:             About Medium Grey-Brown 199B. Size: Medium. Length: 3 mm.             Width: 2 mm.         -   Flowering shoots.—(Data taken in September at mid-point of             current season growth.) Size: Average diameter approximately             4 mm. Color: Topside: About Dark Greyed-Orange 176A.             Underside: About Dark Greyed-Orange 176A. Internode Length:             Medium; approximately 2 cm. Midway on flowering shoot.             Flowering Shoot Lenticels: Medium amount. Color: About             Medium Greyed-Orange 164B. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm.             Flowering Shoot Leaf Buds: Shape: Conical. Width:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color:             About Dark Greyed-Orange 166A. Flowering Shoot Flower Buds:             Shape: Ovoid. Width: Approximately 1.1 mm. Length:             Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 166A.             Number of buds per node: Usually 2-4. Density of buds:             Medium. Flower bud distribution: on spurs and one year old             shoots and older wood. Ratio of wood (leaf) buds to             flowering buds: 2/2 on nodes. Anthocyanin intensity: None or             very slight. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaves.—(Data taken in September on fully expanded leaves at             mid-point of the current season growth) Size: Medium.             Average length: Medium; approximately 80 mm without petiole.             Average width: Medium; approximately 43 mm. Thickness:             Medium. Color: Upper surface: About Dark Yellow-Green 147A.             Lower surface: About Medium Yellow-Green 148C. Form: Broad             obovate. Tip: Cuspidate. Base: V-shaped. Margin: Crenate.             Venation: Pinately net veined. Vein Color: About Dark             Yellow-Green 147D. Surface Texture: Smooth. Leaf blade             (Ratio of length to width): Medium, About 2:1. Shape in the             cross section: Concave. Angle at apex: Small. Profile: Up             folded. Leaf blade tip: Curved downwardly. Angle of tip:             Acute. Undulation of margin: Slight.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Medium; approximately 13 mm.             Average Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color: About Light             Yellow-Green 147D. Thickness: Medium, About 1.1 mm.         -   Stipules.—Number/Leaf bud: Approximately 0-2 per leaf bud             when present. Typical length: Approximately 8 mm. Color:             About Medium Yellow-Green 147C. Persistence: Falls off.         -   Leaf glands.—Form: Globose. Average Number: 0-2. Position:             On leaf base, opposite. Average Size: Medium; approximately             0.5 mm. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 165A. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—Flower Blooming Period: First bloom: Approximately             Mar. 1, 2013. Full bloom: Approximately Mar. 4, 2013.             Location of first bloom: Top of tree. Location of full             bloom: Mid-section of the canopy. Time of bloom: Medium.             Duration of Bloom: Medium; approximately 14 days. Diameter             of fully opened flower: Medium, approximately 7 mm. Flower             aroma: Slight aroma. Shape: Rosaceous. Peduncle: Length:             Medium; approximately 12 mm. Diameter: Slender;             approximately 1.5 mm. Color: About Medium Yellow-Green 144B.             Pubescence: Absent.         -   Petals.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Free. Length: Approximately             9 mm. Diameter: Approximately 6 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex             Shape: Rounded. Base Shape: Narrows at point of attachment.             Color of inner and outer surface: White. Surface Texture:             Smooth. Margins: Slightly undulating, entire. Frequency of             flowers with double petals: None. Size: Medium. Claw length:             Medium. Margin waviness: Weak. Base angle: Narrow. Division             of upper margin: Entire. Pubescence of inner surface:             Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: Approximately 3 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Shape: Triangular. Color: About Medium             Yellow-Green 144A. Surface Texture: Smooth. Margins: Entire.             Positioning: Adpressed to petals. Pubescence of inner             surface: Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.             Frequency of flowers with double sepals: None.         -   Stamens.—Number: Usually 25-30. Average Length: About             1-10 mm. Filament Color: White. Anther Color: About Medium             Greyed-Yellow 162A. Flower Pollen Color: About Medium             Greyed-Yellow 162A when dried. Position: Perigynous.         -   Pistil.—Number: Usually one, occasionally two. Average             Length: Approximately 6-9 mm. Ovary Diameter: Approximately             1 mm. Pubescence: None. Stigma Extension in Comparison to             Anthers: Usually below anthers. Style Frequency of             Supplementary Pistils: Few.         -   Receptacle.—Depth: Medium Pubescence of inner surface:             Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.         -   Ovary.—Pubescence: Absent.         -   Style.—Pubescence: Absent. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—(Description taken near Wasco, Kern County, Calif.             on August 12) Date of first pick: Approximately August 8.             Date of last pick: Approximately August 20. Maturity when             described: Firm-mature. Season Ripening: Medium. Position of             maximum diameter: Center Symmetry about the suture:             Symmetric or slightly assymetric.         -   Size.—Length (Stem End to Apex): Approximately 75 mm.             Diameter in Line with Suture Plane: Approximately 75 mm.             Diameter Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 70 mm.             Average Weight: Approximately 180 gm.         -   Form.—Viewed from Apex: Rounded. Viewed from Side, Facing             Suture: Rounded, slightly elongated. Viewed from Side,             Perpendicular to Suture: Rounded, slightly elongated.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Fruit stem cavity.—Shape: Elongated in suture plane. Depth:             Shallow; Approximately 0.8 cm. Breadth: Approximately 1 cm.             Width: Narrow.         -   Fruit stem.—Length: Medium; approximately 8 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Color: About Light Yellow-Green 147D.             Adherence to Stone: Medium.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness: Medium. Adherence to Flesh: Medium.             Surface Texture: Medium. Pubescence: None. Bloom:             Medium-heavy. Ground color: About Medium Yellow-Green 148B             to Medium Greyed-Orange163C. Overcolor: Dapple, About Dark             Greyed-Purple 187B to Dark Greyed-Purple 187A. Taste:             Neutral. Reticulation: Slight. Roughness: Absent. Tenacity:             Tenacious to flesh. Tendency to crack: None in wet season.         -   Flesh.—Ripens: Evenly. Texture: Crisp-juicy. Fibers: Few.             Flavor: Mildly Sweet. Brix: Approximately 19°. Juice:             Abundant. Aroma: Slight fruity aroma. Color: About Dark Red             53A. Anthocyanin color of flesh: Strongly expressed             throughout evenly. Acidity: Medium. Sugar content: High.             Eating quality: Good. Stone/Flesh Ratio: Small. Firmness:             Medium.         -   Pit cavity size.—Length: Approximately 25 mm. Diameter             perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 18 mm. Diameter             in line with Suture: Approximately 10 mm. Color: About Dark             Red 53A.         -   Fruit use.—Fresh market.         -   Fruit shipping and keeping quality.—Good.         -   Stone.—Stone Freeness: Cling. Degree of Adherence to Flesh:             Medium. Stone Size: Size: Medium Size compared to Fruit:             Small. Length: Medium, approximately 25 mm. Diameter in line             with suture plan: Approximately 18 mm. Diameter             perpendicular to suture plane: Approximately 10 mm. Width of             Stalk End: Medium, Approximately 8 mm. Angle of Stalk end:             Right angle. Hilum: Oval. Stone Form Viewed from side: Oval             with flat base. Viewed from ventral end: Flattened. Viewed             from Stem end: Oval. Stone Shape: Base shape: Nearly             straight. Apex shape: Rounded with small point. Stone             Surface: Rough with irregular shallow furrows. Stone Halves:             Nearly symmetrical. Stone Ridges: Rough, rounded. Stone             Outgrowing Keel: Well-developed. Stone Tendency to Split:             Almost none. Stone Color: About Medium Greyed-Orange 174A.             Position of maximum: Middle. Sides: Nearly equal. Pits:             Angular. Ventrical Edge: Narrow. Dorsal Edge: Narrow             continuous. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct plum tree as herein described and illustrated. 